Closed container with vapor phase corrosion inhibitor



1967 H. E. DUNHOLTER 3,356,280

CLOSED CONTAINER WITH VAPOR PHASE CORROSION INHIBITOR Filed July 29. 1964 INVENTOR. HARRY E DUNHOLTER ATTQRNEHQ United States Patent O 3,356,280 CLOSED CONTAINER WITH VAPOR PHASE CORROSION INHIBITOR Harry E. Dunholter, Toledo, Ohio, assignor to Owens- Illinois Inc., a corporation of Ohio Filed July 29, 1964, Ser.No. 386,023 6 Claims. (Cl. 22937) This invention relates to a closed container comprising a corrosion inhibitor of the type which impedes corrosion of the contents of the container by the action of the vapors of the inhibitor, i.e., a vapor phase corrosion inhibitor. More particularly, the invention relates to a closed container of corrugated paperboard or equivalent construction of a design which will allow vapors of a vapor phase corrosion inhibitor to circulate freely through the interior of the container in contact with the contents without allowing direct contact between the contents and that part of the corrosion inhibitor which is in the solid state.

There are many known types of materials such as fatty acids which have excellent corrosion inhibition properties in the vapor state, particularly in regard to ferrous metal items, but which are somewhat corrosive to such items in the solid state, due frequently to the somewhat acidic nature of such materials. These materials may be used to advantage in the construction of closed containers for the storage and/ or shipment of items subject to corrosion so long as steps are taken to insure that vapors of the corrosion inhibitor may circulate freely through the container in contact with the contained items while simultaneously safeguarding the items from contact with any portion of the corrosion inhibitor that is in the solid state.

It is, therefore, the object of this invention to provide a closed container comprising a material of the class known as vapor phase corrosion inhibitors. It is a further object of the invention to provide a container which permits free contact of the contained items with vapors of a corrosion inhibiting material while safeguarding the contained items from contact with the portions of the corrosion inhibitor in a solid state.

For a further understanding of the invention attention is directed to the following portion of the specification, the drawing and the appended claims.

In the drawing:

FIG. 1 is a perspective view of an embodiment of a container constructed in accordance with the present invention;

FIG. 2 is a plan sectional view of the container of FIG. 1 taken on line 22 thereof;

FIG. 3 is a plan view of a blank of material from which the container of FIGS. 1 and 2 may be formed; and

FIG. 4 is a view showing a step in the construction of the container of FIGS. 1 and 2 from the blank of FIG. 3.

In the illustrated embodiment of the invention there is provided a closed container indicated generally at 11 shown as being a regular slotted container and constructed of corrugated paperboard. Container 11 is constructed of a single double-ended blank of material B comprising a first panel 12 which forms one of the sides of the container, a second panel 13 foldably connected to panel 12 along score line 14 and forming an end panel of the container, a third panel 15 foldably connected to end panel 13 along score line 16 and forming an opposite side of the container, a fourth panel 17 at an end of blank B foldably connected to panel 15 along score line 18 and which forms the end of container 11 opposite from end 13, and a small flap 19 foldably connected to panel 12 along score line 21 at the opposite end of blank B. -pposite edges of panels 12 and 15 are provided with end -7 3,356,280 1C6 P t ted Dec-5,

closure flaps 22 foldably connected thereto and opposite edges of panels 13 and 17 are provided with flaps 23 foldably connected thereto, blank B being cut along lines C between flaps 22 and 23.

Blank B is folded on score lines 14, 16 and 18 to form a tubular structure with flap 19 being folded along line 21 to overlie the end of panel 17 as in a standard manufacturers joint. The ends of the otherwise open-ended tubular structure are thereupon closed by inwardly folding flaps 23 and thence inwardly folding flaps 22 over flaps 23. Flap 19 is secured to the end of panel 17 by means of a row of staples 24 and inwardly folded flaps 22 are secured by means of a strip of tape 25 overlying their adjacent edges.

Protection of the contents of container 11 from corrosion is accomplished by applying a corrosion inhibitor material 26 to the interior surface of flap 19, that is, to that surface of panel 19 which contacts a portion of the surface of panel 17 in the assembled container. Corrosion inhibitor material 26 is of the type which is normally solid at ordinary temperatures, such as the fatty acid type materials which are marketed under the trade name Neo- Fat, and may be applied by conventional glue applicating equipment if the corrosion inhibitor material is initially reduced to a liquid state, as by means of the use of strip heaters in the supply tank. The portion of panel 17 which is covered by flap 19 is provided with a plurality of through ports of a size of the order of a pin hole to permit vapors from corrosion inhibitor material 26 to enter the interior of container 11. Ports 27 are suitably small in order to prevent solid portions from corrosion inhibitor material 26 from entering container 11 and are of sufiicient number to permit a satisfactory quantity of vapor of corrosion inhibitor material 26 to enter container 11.

Thus, in accordance with this invention there is provided a closed container of a design comprising a corrosion inhibitor material which inexpensively and positively allows the corrosion inhibitor material to contact the contents of the container only in the vapor state. It will of course be obvious to one skilled in the art that container designs other than the regular slotted container illustrated in the drawing may be constructed in order to practice the present invention. Therefore it will be appreciated that the invention should be limited only in accordance with the spirit and scope of the appended claims.

I claim:

1. A container comprising, in combination: a double ended wall with the second end folded back and overlying the first end and thereby defining an open-ended tubular structure; a normally solid vapor phase corrosion inhibitor disposed intermediate the first end and the second end in the region where the second end overlies the first end; a plurality of small perforations through that part of the first end which the second end overlies to permit vapors from said vapor phase corrosion inhibitor material to enter said tubular structure; and wall means closing the ends of said tubular structure and defining a closed container therewith.

2. A container in accordance with claim 1 wherein the vapor phase corrosion inhibitor material is applied to that portion of the second end of the wall which is in contact with the first end thereof.

3. A container in accordance with claim 1 wherein said double ended wall comprises a sheet of corrugated paperboard.

4. A container comprising, in combination: a plurality of panels foldably connected to one another in series, said plurality comprising at least four panels; a flap foldably connected to the first of the panels in the plurality, said panels and said flap being folded so that said flap overlies a portion of the last of the panels in the plurality;

a vapor phase corrosion inhibitor material applied to the surface of the flap which overlies a portion of the last panel in the plurality; a plurality of small perforations through that portion of the last panel in the plurality which the flap overlies to permit vapors from said vapor phase corrosion inhibitor material to enter said tubular structure; and wall means closing the end oi said tubular structure to define a closed container therewith.

5. A container according to claim 4 wherein the said wall means comprises inwardly foldable flaps foldably connected to the opposed edges of said panels that extend transversely to the foldable connections between said panels.

6. A container in accordance with claim 4 wherein said flap is attached to said portion of said last panel by means 5 of a plurality of staples.

No references cited.

JOSEPH SCOVRONEK, Primary Examiner.

10 B. s. RICHMANQASSZ'Stant Examiner. 

4. A CONTAINER COMPRISING, IN COMBINATION: A PLURALITY OF PANELS FOLDABLY CONNECTED TO ONE ANOTHER IN SERIES, SAID PLURALITY COMPRISING AT LEAST FOUR PANELS; A FLAP FOLDABLY CONNECTED TO THE FIRST OF THE PANELS IN THE PLURALITY, SAID PANELS AND SAID FLAP BEING FOLDED SO THAT SAID FLAP OVERLIES A PORTION OF THE LAST OF THE PANELS IN THE PLURALITY; A VAPOR PHASE CORROSION INHIBITOR MATERIAL APPLIED TO THE SURFACE OF THE FLAP WHICH OVERLIES A PORTION OF THE LAST PANEL IN THE PLURALITY; A PLURALITY OF SMALL PERFORATIONS THROUGH THAT PORTION OF THE LAST PANEL IN THE PLURALITY WHICH THE FLAP OVERLIES TO PERMIT VAPORS FROM SAID VAPOR PHASE CORROSION INHIBITOR MATERIAL TO ENTER SAID TUBULAR STRUCTURE; AND WALL MEANS CLOSING THE END OF SAID TUBULAR STRUCTURE TO DEFINE A CLOSED CONTAINED THEREWITH. 